JPH10100272A - Method and apparatus for producing beverage straw - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically and continuously achieve a series of manufacturing processes by sizing a hollow molded member molded by an extruder and producing straw members having a predetermined dimension by cutting the same into hollow molded members to send out them to a case. SOLUTION: A gear pump 20 quantitatively and certainly sends out the molten kneaded matter sent from a cylinder 15 under pressure to a molding head 22 in a constant pressure state to mold the same into a hollow molded member 25. The hollow molded 25 molded from the kneaded matter and having high temp. but held to soft state receives sizing wherein an outer dimension expands up to the inner diameter dimension of the dimension to produce a straw cylindrical material 40. Subsequently, the straw cylindrical part 40 having the molding of the engaging part applied thereto to be corrected into a roundess state is guided by a guide 51 and subsequently cut by a rotary cutter 52 to produce a straw member 53. A feed drum performs function sending a straw member 53 into the case 76 of the cartridge provided to the upper part of the feed drum.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing a drinking straw which can continuously achieve a series of steps for producing a straw member from a raw material of a thermoplastic material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a straw manufacturing method and apparatus have been described. A long hollow molded member is molded by an extruder using a resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene as a raw material. It is known to cut a straw member into a member and store the cut straw member in a storage portion (for example, see Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-79222). The conventional method and apparatus for manufacturing a straw is such that the hollow molded member has a double straw structure in which the inner tube is slidably inserted into the outer tube, and the length of the straw itself is lengthened and used for drinking and the like. May be manufactured for telescopic straws. In this case, in order to form a locking portion on the outer tube for locking the enlarged end of the inner tube at the reduced diameter end of the outer tube at the time of extension,
The straw member of the outer tube was formed with irregularities and grooves.

[0003]

However, since straws are consumed in large quantities on a daily basis, it is necessary to reduce the cost by continuously producing straws in large quantities. From the viewpoint of continuous and mass production, in the method and apparatus for manufacturing a drinking straw, a long hollow molded member is molded by an extruder from a kneaded material obtained by heating and melting a resin such as polyethylene as a raw material. By forming the hollow molded member into a predetermined cross-sectional shape and then cutting the same, a straw member having a predetermined size is produced, and the subsequent processing (for example, in the case of a stretchable straw, assembling the inner and outer tubes of the straw, Until now, concrete proposals have been made on how to construct a system as a series of processes from the production of the kneaded material to the storage of the kneaded material in the case of storing in a case to shift to (straw packaging). This has not been done and remains a problem to be solved.

[0004] Further, regarding the size of the straw, that is, the diameter, thickness, length, etc. of the straw, various sizes are required depending on resin molding conditions and demands from the user of the straw. That is, the heating temperature and the molding speed are different depending on the type of the raw material such as the thermoplastic resin to be used, and as a result, there are restrictions on the moldable size such as the thickness of the straw and the inner and outer diameters. When a straw is attached to a beverage container, a size matching the size of the container is required. Further, in the stretchable straw, the inner tube and the outer tube are originally different in size. Further, there is a need for consumers and beverage manufacturers to demand straws of various sizes according to the beverage. Thus, even if the size of the straw to be manufactured is different, the size must be changed quickly and easily in the straw manufacturing apparatus.

[0005] Further, the manufacturing apparatus itself must be an apparatus capable of adopting a continuous production form, and it must be capable of saving space by associating parts for executing respective steps. Specifically, a step of manufacturing a hollow molded member from the kneaded material, a step of cooling and sizing for molding into a predetermined shape, and cutting the sized hollow molded member to produce a straw member There is a need for an efficient beverage straw manufacturing device by sequencing the processes, associating the devices that perform each process, and synchronizing the operation of the devices that perform each process. Furthermore, when the straw is a telescopic straw in which the inner tube and the outer tube are nested and overlapped, and the inner tube is pulled out of the outer tube during use to extend the length of the straw, the drawn inner tube is placed inside the outer tube. In order not to return with a slight force to
It is necessary to form a locking portion at a predetermined position of the straw for locking the inner tube to the outer tube to prevent the straw from contracting.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to form a long hollow molded member from a kneaded product obtained by heating and melting a thermoplastic resin by an extruder or the like, and subject the hollow molded member to sizing or the like, Thereafter, the hollow molded member is cut to produce a straw member of a predetermined size, and further, for example, a straw member is sent to a case or the like in order to perform the next step on the produced straw. In the case where the straw member is manufactured as an outer tube of a telescopic straw, a circumferential direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction for locking the inner tube is realized. The locking portion can be partially or entirely formed on the straw cylinder member prior to cutting, thereby reducing the number of personnel,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for producing a drinking straw which is extremely preferable in terms of safety and hygiene.

According to the present invention, a kneaded product is produced by adding an additive to a raw material of a thermoplastic material and heating and dissolving the mixture, and a blown compressed air is blown into the fed kneaded product to produce a hollow molded member. A step of taking out the hollow molded member sent out, cooling and sizing and molding it into a predetermined shape to produce a straw cylindrical member,
A step of heat-forming a locking portion that intersects the straw cylinder member in the longitudinal direction at predetermined intervals, a step of cutting the straw cylinder member to a predetermined length to produce a straw member, and the straw member fed out And a step of sending out the straw member fed out in an aligned manner.

Further, the present invention provides a raw material hopper into which a raw material of a thermoplastic material of a raw material stocker is charged, a case for an additive provided for adding an additive to the raw material in the raw material hopper, A kneaded material manufacturing apparatus that mixes and heats and melts the additive to form a kneaded material, a cylinder provided with a screw conveyor for sending the kneaded material, and blowing compressed air into the kneaded material sent out in the cylinder. An air nozzle for molding the kneaded material into a hollow molded member, a take-off roller for taking the hollow molded member sent out from the cylinder, a cooling bath for cooling the hollow molded member taken by the take-off roller, and inside the cooling bath. A sizing device for sizing the hollow molded member disposed in the mold and molding the hollow molded member into a predetermined shape to produce a straw tubular member; An engaging part forming apparatus for heat-forming an engaging part that intersects a longitudinal direction at a predetermined interval with a cylindrical member for a row, the cylindrical member for a straw having a predetermined length in order to produce a straw member of a predetermined length. The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a drinking straw, comprising: a rotary cutter for cutting; and conveying means for suction-conveying the straw members sequentially fed out by air and aligning and feeding the straw members.

According to the present invention, an additive such as a coloring material is added to a raw material made of a thermoplastic material, and the mixture is heated and melted to form a kneaded product. To form a hollow molded member. The hollow molded member that has been sent out is subjected to sizing together with cooling, and molded into a predetermined shape to produce a straw cylindrical member. A locking portion is formed on the straw cylinder member at a predetermined interval in a circumferential direction partially or entirely in a circumferential direction, and the straw cylinder member is cut into a predetermined length to produce a straw member. Then, the straw members fed out are aligned in posture during conveyance, and the straw members fed out in alignment are stored in a case. In addition, when the traveling speed of the straw cylinder member and the cutting speed of the cutter are combined, the length of the straw member to be manufactured can be appropriately set.

Further, the step of forming the locking portion at a predetermined position of the straw cylinder member and the step of cutting the straw cylinder member to a predetermined length are synchronized with each other. The tube member is cut at a position at a predetermined distance from the locking portion. In the beverage straw manufacturing device, the locking part forming device is operated in synchronization with the rotary cutter,
The straw cylinder member is cut at a position at a predetermined distance from the locking portion of the straw cylinder member. By synchronizing the locking part forming device and the rotary cutter, the locking part is always formed at a predetermined distance from the cutting position as a straw member, and the same straw member with the locking part is formed. It will be manufactured.

[0011] The method for producing a drinking straw is as follows.
Cooling of the hollow molded member is performed by water cooling, sizing of the hollow molded member is performed in water, and moisture adhering to the straw cylindrical member molded after sizing of the hollow molded member is reduced by a straw cylinder. The method includes a step of draining by blowing compressed air to the member. The hollow molded member is in a high temperature state immediately after it is produced, and it is preferable that the temperature be somewhat high during sanding from the viewpoint of ease of molding. However, if the temperature is still high even after the termination of the saijin, the susceptibility to deformation and the susceptibility to residual are high. Therefore, sizing is performed while cooling of the hollow molded member is in progress. As the cooling liquid, water is optimal from the viewpoints of heat capacity, drying property, safety, cost and the like. Water adhering to the straw cylinder member is easily drained by blowing compressed air to the straw cylinder member. In addition, in the beverage straw manufacturing apparatus, the water for cooling the hollow molded member is circulated, and the sizing device is disposed in the water tank, and the water adhering to the straw cylindrical member sent out from the water tank is used for the straw cylinder. A water draining device is provided for blowing water by blowing compressed air to the member.

In the step of aligning the position of the straw members, the straw members are sequentially conveyed while being sucked by air, aligned in position, and sent to the standby station. Individual straws made of resin are very lightweight,
It is conveyed by suction by air and aligned in posture. Further, the conveying means is composed of a conveying conveyor that feeds out the straw member in a posture aligned manner and a conveying drum that transfers and sends out the straw member from the conveying conveyor, and between the conveying conveyor and the conveying drum, A standby station is provided to temporarily wait for the straw member fed from the conveyor, and a mismatch between the number of straw members manufactured and the number of straws stored in the case is absorbed by eliminating defective products.

Further, the straw members sent to the waiting station are transferred in order and are sequentially stored in the case from below the case. Since each straw made of resin is very light, if it is thrown into the case from above, the posture is disturbed, so that the straw cannot be stored in the case in an aligned state. When the straw members are sequentially stored from below the case, the weight of the straw member already stored in the case acts on the straw member to be stored next, so that the straw members are stored with the posture of the straw members kept constant.

Further, an eccentric roller is provided in the case, and the eccentric roller rotates to stir the straw member. Therefore, due to static electricity generated by the straw members rubbing inside the case,
Although the straw member attempts to cause a bridging phenomenon, the bridge that has been generated is immediately broken by the agitation of the eccentric roller, and as a result, the straw member moves smoothly into the case.

The present invention is configured as described above. In the system, for example, the presence of raw materials and additives in each hopper such as raw materials and additives, the state of the straw cylinder member and the straw member, and the feeding If appropriate optimal parts such as the state, the feed state of water and compressed air, the state of formation of the locking part, etc. are selected, and sensors and alarm means for detecting those states are provided, the series from the raw material to the straw member The process can be carried out automatically and continuously without the attendance of workers, while reducing the number of personnel, work safety,
It is possible to provide a preferable manufacturing system in terms of food hygiene, a working environment for cleaning and the like, and it is possible to continuously and mass-produce drinking straws of a required size.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of an apparatus for producing a drinking straw according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 is a front view showing an embodiment of the apparatus for manufacturing a drinking straw according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a case in which the straw members of the apparatus shown in FIG. It is a side view which shows the state stored in.

The method and apparatus for manufacturing a drinking straw according to the present invention comprises a kneaded material production process section 1 for adding an additive to a raw material of a straw and heating and dissolving the kneaded material to form a kneaded material. Extrusion processing step 2 for blowing a compressed air to produce a hollow molded member from the kneaded material, sizing and cooling for cooling the hollow molded member, performing sizing and molding into a predetermined shape to produce a straw cylindrical member. Step 3, a stopper forming and cutting step 4, in which the straw cylinder member is taken off and the stopper is formed on the straw cylinder member and cut into a predetermined length to produce a straw member. It comprises a posture aligning section 5 for aligning the straw members in an attitude, and a storing section 6 for storing the straw members aligned in the posture in a case.

As a raw material of the straw, a thermoplastic material is used, and a typical example thereof is polypropylene (hereinafter, referred to as PP). The polypropylene is stored in the raw material stocker 7 in the form of pellets. The level of the PP pellet in the raw material stocker 7 is monitored by the level sensor 8 so as to be always constant. Since the vacuum pump 10 makes the inside of the raw material hopper 9 a negative pressure through the suction pipe 11, the PP pellets in the raw material stocker 7 are sucked out through the raw material pipe 12 so as to be extruded.
Automatically into the raw material hopper 9. The suction strength of the vacuum pump 10 that determines the supply amount of the PP pellets is controlled by a control signal output from the control panel 13 based on the level signal detected by the level sensor 8a in the raw material hopper 9.

At the lower part of the raw material hopper 9, a screw conveyor 16 having a rotation axis in the horizontal direction in the drawing is installed. The screw conveyor 16 is disposed in the cylinder 15, and is moved from the raw material hopper 9 to the screw conveyor 16.
The PP pellets that have fallen onto the screw conveyor 16
Of the cylinder 15 and the screw conveyor 16
Is fed forward in the space between them. The screw conveyor 16 is driven by an electric motor 18 installed below the machine base 17 of the extruder 14 via an appropriate transmission device and a speed reducer. The rotation speed control of the electric motor 18 is performed by an inverter.

Various additives are added to the raw material of the straw. For example, straws may be colored according to user needs. In the case of white, a titanium-based white material is added to polypropylene. An additive case 19 containing an additive such as a coloring pellet is provided near the raw material hopper 9. From the additive case 19, the coloring pellets fall on, for example, a small screw conveyor and are mixed with the PP pellets.
The supply amount of the coloring pellets is controlled so that the ratio of the coloring pellets to the PP pellets is constant even if the supply amount of the kneaded material changes. In the extruder 14 as a kneaded product manufacturing apparatus, the mixed pellets are heated and melted by the heater while the mixing is further uniformed while being supplied by the screw conveyor 16. The heating temperature of the heater is controlled according to the type of resin used, the production speed of the kneaded material, and the like. The melted and kneaded mixture is further pressurized by the screw conveyor 16 and pushed out to the front gear pump 20. Gear pump 20
Is driven by a gear pump motor 21.

The gear pump 20 surely sends out the melted kneaded material pressure-fed from the cylinder 15 to the forming head 22 at a constant and constant pressure to form the kneaded material into a hollow formed member. The rotation of the gear pump motor 21 that drives the gear pump 20 is controlled by a sequencer so as to maintain a proportional relationship with the driving speed of the screw conveyor 16, and the production speed of the kneaded material and the molding of the hollow molding member by the molding head 22. Matching with speed is achieved.

In the extrusion processing section 2, the molding head 22 is not shown, but may be, for example, a net breaker,
A downstream die and a nipple disposed therein are provided. Compressed air adjusted to a pressure slightly higher than the atmospheric pressure by a pressure regulator 24 from a compressed air supply source 23 composed of a compressor, a pressure tank or the like is discharged from an air nozzle provided at the center of the nipple. The kneaded material supplied to the cylindrical passage between the die and the nipple is
The hollow molded member 25 is extruded from the second annular opening. The pressure of the compressed air discharged from the air nozzle acts on the inner surface of the hollow molded member 25, and the hollow molded member 25
It is sent to the sizing and cooling process section 3 while maintaining the hollowness while being swollen from the inside.

The hollow shaped member 25 formed by the forming head 22 is picked up by a pick-up roller 26 in the sizing and cooling section 3 and guided by a guide roller 27 to travel. The sizing and cooling process section 3 includes a water tank 28 as a cooling tank in which a cooling liquid, preferably cooling water is pumped, and the hollow shaped member 25 is passed through the cooling water and cooled. Is done. The water tank 28 is entirely movable with respect to the machine base 30 by rollers 29, and the positional relationship with the extruder 14 is adjustable. Water supply valve 3
By appropriately opening 1, the new cooling water is always supplied to the water tank 28 from the water supply system 32 including the water suction pump, the tank, the water supply pipe, etc., and the water having a predetermined water level or higher is collected and treated. Thereafter, the water is circulated to the water supply system 32. The water temperature sensor 33 attached to the water tank 28 detects the temperature of the cooling water. When the water temperature sensor 33 detects a water temperature that is too low, the heater 34 provided in the water tank 28 is heated to Controlled by water temperature.

Since the temperature of the hollow molding member 25, which has just been molded from the kneaded material, is still high and in a soft state, sizing, that is, a process of adjusting the external dimensions to a predetermined one, is performed at an early stage where cooling does not proceed. Is done. The sizing device 35 has a passage having an inner diameter larger than the outer shape of the hollow molded member 25 inside. In the illustrated example, six pipes 38 are branched from a suction pipe 37 extending from a water-sealed vacuum pump 36 installed at the lower part of the machine base 30, and each branch pipe 38 is an internal passage of the sizing device 35. It is connected to the. Each branch pipe 38 has a negative pressure control valve 39.
(Only one of them is denoted by a symbol as a representative), and the negative pressure control valve 39 controls the negative pressure acting on the internal passage. Since a negative pressure acts on the outer surface of the hollow molded member 25 that advances in the internal passage of the sizing device 35,
The hollow formed member 25 is subjected to sizing in which the outer dimension is increased to the inner diameter of the passage, and the straw cylindrical member 40 is formed.
Will be produced. A thin water film is formed between the internal passage of the sizing device 35 and the outer surface of the hollow molded member 25 to make the running of the hollow molded member 25 smooth. The operation of the vacuum pump 36 and the temperature of the cooling water are automatically controlled by a control signal from a control panel 41 provided in the sizing and cooling process unit 3.

After finishing the sizing process, the straw cylinder member 40 further travels in the water tank 28 and is cooled to a predetermined hardness. At the outlet of the water tank 28, a drainer 42 for removing water attached to the outer surface of the straw cylinder member 40 is provided. The draining device 42 is supplied from a compressed air supply source 43 such as a compressor or a pressure tank and has a valve 44.
The air adjusted to a predetermined pressure and flow rate by the
5 is sprayed onto the outer surface of the straw cylindrical member 40. The draining device 42 includes a straw cylindrical member 40.
So that the straw can pass with a sufficient margin.
An internal passage having an inner diameter sufficiently larger than the outer diameter of 0 is formed. Water adhering to the outer surface of the straw cylinder member 40 is blown off by the air that is sent to the blowing passage that is inclined backward from the front in the traveling direction of the straw cylinder member 40 and crosses the passage.

Next, the straw cylinder member 40 from which the adhering moisture has been removed is sent to the engaging part forming and cutting step part 4. The straw cylinder member 40 includes three sets of take-off rollers 4.
6 is evenly taken off. A travel guide 47 is appropriately arranged in association with the take-up roller 46, and smoothes the guide of the straw cylinder member 40 to the take-up roller 46. Before cutting the taken-in straw tube member 40, a locking portion forming device 4 for heat-forming a locking portion that intersects the straw cylinder member 40 in the longitudinal direction at a predetermined interval.
9, 50 are located immediately after the most upstream take-up roller 46. The locking portion forming device 49 is provided with the straw cylindrical member 4.
The locking portion is formed by performing processing from above and below with respect to 0. The locking part forming device 50 processes the straw cylinder member 40 from the left and right directions to form a locking part at a predetermined position in a circumferential direction partially or entirely. Locking part forming device 4
9 and 50 are structurally the same, although the directions of arrangement are different. Only one is used when the locking portion is partially formed, and both are used when the locking portion is formed all around. By using, various locking portions can be easily formed. Further, when the locking portion is partially formed, it is needless to say that only one of the locking portion forming devices 49 and 50 is provided and the other is not required.

In the locking portion forming device 49, the passing straw cylindrical member 40 is squeezed by the squeezing rollers from the left and right directions to be deformed into an elliptical shape. The heated mold is pressed against the straw cylinder member 40 from above and below with a force in a direction of crushing the oblong region from above and below, and the locking portion is formed. Since the molding die presses the elliptical region, the straw cylinder member 40 has less relief from the molding die, and the locking portion is easily molded. The locking portion forming device 50 additionally forms a locking portion on the straw cylinder member 40 in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the locking portion forming device 49 forms the locking portion. Accordingly, the locking portion is formed around the straw cylinder member 40 from the cross direction around the straw cylinder member 40.

In the locking portion forming devices 49 and 50, the straw cylindrical member 40 immediately after the locking portion is formed by the molding die.
Is still receiving the force of being deformed into an elliptical shape by the pinching roller. In order to correct the straw cylinder member 40 into a predetermined shape, the locking portion molding devices 49 and 50 are provided with molding rollers that lightly press the portion of the straw cylinder member 40 that has been deformed into the elliptical shape. By the action of the forming roller, the elliptical deformation of the straw cylinder member 40 can be removed to a considerable extent. Furthermore, in the downstream side, the straw cylinder member 40
A roundness adjustment unit 48 for improving the roundness of the circle is arranged. The perfect circle adjusting section 48 is composed of a plurality of perfect circular adjusting rollers appropriately arranged along the traveling direction of the straw cylinder member 40, and is configured to reduce distortion and remaining distortion in the straw cylinder member 40 due to sizing and forming of the locking portion. The deformation is corrected to make the cross section a perfect circle.

The straw cylinder member 40 with the locking portion formed and corrected into a perfect circle is subsequently guided by a guide 51 and then cut by a rotary cutter 52.
The straw member 53 is manufactured. The rotary cutter 52 rotates around a rotation axis parallel to the running direction of the straw cylinder member 40, and has a predetermined number of rotary blades 54 on the outer periphery. Immediately before the rotary cutter 52, there is provided a fixed blade for cutting the straw cylindrical member 40 with the rotary blade 54 therebetween. At the moment when the rotary cutter 52 cuts the straw tube member 40, the straw tube member 40 is restrained by the rotating blade 54 and the fixed blade. At this moment, the straw cylinder member 40 is continuously fed by the take-up roller 46, but the soft straw cylinder member 40 is slightly bent in the gap of the guide 51 having a margin larger than its outer diameter. Thereby, the inconsistency of the feed of the straw cylinder member 40 is absorbed.

Usually, a rotary mold is used for the locking portion forming devices 49 and 50, so that the take-up roller 46 and the forming die are driven by one electric motor 56 provided on the machine base 55. Will be The output of the electric motor 56 is appropriately reduced via the transmission, and each take-up roller 46 rotates at the same rotational speed. Further, when the forming die is provided with a plurality of forming tools on the outer periphery, the rotational speed of the forming tool is fixed at a constant rotational speed so that the peripheral speed of the forming tool is equal to the peripheral speed of the take-off roller 46, that is, the take-up speed. Rotated. The electric motor 56 is provided with an inverter, so that the straw production speed, that is, the optimum withdrawal speed that matches the production plan within a range limited by the conditions such as the properties of the straw raw material, the straw outer diameter and the thickness, etc. Thus, the rotation speed of the electric motor 56 is adjusted. Electric motor 5
The rotation speed control of No. 6 is performed by the inverter.

The length of the straw member 53 is changed by changing the speed ratio of the transmission 57 to increase or decrease the rotational speed of the rotary cutter 52 with respect to the speed of the take-up roller 46 taking up the straw cylinder member 40. Can be changed. If the rotational speed of the rotary cutter 52 is shifted in a direction to increase relative to the take-up speed, the length of the straw member 53 is shortened, and conversely, the rotational speed of the rotary cutter 52 is made relative to the take-up speed. When the speed is shifted in the direction of deceleration, the length of the straw member 53 becomes longer. The rotary cutter 52 is operated in synchronization with the locking portion forming devices 49 and 50, and cuts the straw cylindrical member 40 at a predetermined distance from the locking portion formed on the straw cylindrical member 40.

The locking portion forming devices 49 and 50 are further driven via a differential 58. Since the structure of the differential 58 is well-known prior to the filing of this application, a detailed description thereof will be omitted here. By adjusting the differential 58, the forming position of the straw cylinder member 40 formed by the locking part forming devices 49 and 50 and the cutting position by the rotary cutter 52 are adjusted.
In a state where the gear ratio setting of the transmission 57 and the position adjustment by the differential 58 have been completed, even if the rotation speed of the electric motor 56 is changed to increase the take-up speed of the straw cylindrical member 40 by the take-up roller 46, The relative relationship between the position of the locking portion formed on the straw cylinder member 40 and the cutting position of the straw cylinder member 40 by the rotary cutter 52 does not change. Therefore, the production speed of the straw can be changed without changing the length of the straw member 53.

The catch roller 60 is a roller that comes into contact with a straw member 53 produced by cutting and feeds the straw member 53 to a transport conveyor 62, which will be described later. As shown in FIG. ing. The peripheral speed of the catch roller 60 is made faster than the take-up speed of the straw cylinder member 40 to prevent interference with the subsequent straw member 53. The electric motor 59 is an electric motor that drives the catch roller 60. The straw member 53 sent from the catch roller 60 is guided by a guide plate 61 and delivered to a transport conveyor 62. The transport conveyor 62 is composed of a transport belt 63 having projections, and a vacuum table 64 having a large number of suction holes on the transport surface and connected to a negative pressure source. Since the straw member 53 passed to the conveyor 62 is sucked by the suction holes of the vacuum table 64, the length of the straw member 53 is set in the length direction of the conveyor 6.
The seat is conveyed while being seated in a posture aligned parallel to the bottom between the protrusions so as to be orthogonal to the traveling direction of No. 2. Conveyor 62
Is driven by an electric motor 66 provided on a machine base 65.

The straw member 53 is transferred from the transport conveyor 62 to the transport drum 71. Between the transport conveyor 62 and the transport drum 71, a standby station 67 for temporarily waiting the straw member 53 unreeled from the transport conveyor 62 is provided. Is provided. The waiting station 67
It comprises a holding plate 68 having one end rotatably supported, a slope 69, and a small conveyor 70. Standby station 67
In this case, a considerable number of the straw members 53 fed from the transport conveyor 62 are stored, and even if a difference in the transport speed occurs between the transport conveyor 62 and the transport drum 71,
The speed difference is absorbed to prevent the straw member 53 from being chipped or jammed.

The transport drum 71 is formed by arranging straw holders 72 at equal intervals on the outer periphery. The straw holder 72 has a suction hole connected to a negative pressure source 75. The straw members 53 stored in the standby station 67 are sequentially replaced with straw members 53 one by one.
And transported while being sucked by the suction holes. The straw member 53 transported by the transport drum 71 is transferred to the subsequent transport drum 73. The transport drum 73 is formed by arranging straw holding portions 74 on the outer periphery at the same interval as the interval between the straw holding portions 72 of the transport drum 71, and rotates at the same peripheral speed as the peripheral speed of the transport drum 71.
Further, the straw holding section 74 has a suction structure for sucking the straw member 53, similarly to the straw holding section 72. The transport drum 73 is configured to transfer the straw member 53 to a case 76 such as a cartridge provided on the transport drum 73.
It works to send to. The straw holding portions 72 and 74 provided on the transport drums 71 and 73 respectively can stably hold the sucked straw member 53 such as a U-shaped groove on the outer peripheral portion of each drum. Structure.

When the straw member 53 caught by the straw holding portion 74 of the transport drum 73 reaches the cylindrical inlet 79 of the hopper 77 connected to the case 76, the straw member 53 is guided by the fixed guide plate 80 when the straw advances. Holder 7
4 and is forcibly fed into the hopper 76. Since the straw members 53 have already been deposited in the hopper 77 and, in some cases, the case 76, it is necessary to push the straw members 53 against the weight of the deposited straw members 53 in order to feed in the straw members 53. Therefore, the straw member 53 is fed into the hopper 77 and further into the case 76 without being disturbed in posture by air resistance or the like as seen when the straw member 53 is thrown in from above.
The straw members 53 may form a bridge due to static electricity generated when the straw members 53 rub against each other. An eccentric roller 78 is provided in the hopper 77, and the eccentric roller 78 rotates to stir the straw member 53. Due to the stirring action of the eccentric roller 78, the bridge of the straw member 53 is immediately destroyed, even if formed. Therefore, the straw member 53 moves smoothly into the case 76. The case 75 is a cartridge type, and the straw member 5
The case 76 filled with 3 can be removed from the hopper 77 and sent to, for example, the next step of assembling the stretchable straw.

The transport drums 71 and 73 are driven to rotate at the same peripheral speed by an electric motor 81 provided below the machine base 65, and have the same transport speed of the straw member 53 by the transport conveyor 62. The rotation is controlled as follows. Accordingly, the material supply speed, the forming speed of the hollow forming member 25, the rotation speed of the take-up roller 46, the forming speed of the locking portion forming devices 49 and 50, the conveying speed of the catch roller 60, the conveying conveyor 62 and the conveying drum 71 , 73
Are controlled so as to be synchronized so that the process from supply of the raw material to storage of the straw member in the case is continuously performed without interruption or clogging.

[0038]

The method and apparatus for manufacturing a drinking straw according to the present invention are constructed as described above. Therefore, a kneaded product obtained by heating and melting a thermoplastic resin is extruded into a long hollow molded member. The hollow molded member is subjected to cooling and sizing, and then a locking portion is formed at a predetermined position of the straw cylindrical member, and a straw is formed at a predetermined position at a predetermined distance from the locking portion. By cutting the cylindrical member, to produce a straw member having a predetermined size,
Further, for example, a series of steps of accommodating the straw member in the case in order to perform the next processing on the manufactured straw member can be automatically and continuously achieved. Therefore, the present invention can continuously and mass-produce drinking straws, can achieve a reduction in personnel and manufacturing costs,
It is possible to provide a system that is extremely favorable in terms of work safety and food hygiene, and it is possible to easily and properly manufacture a straw having a size required by users and consumers.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing one embodiment of an apparatus for producing a drinking straw according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus for manufacturing a drinking straw according to the present invention, showing a device for aligning a posture of a straw member and storing the straw member in a case in the apparatus for manufacturing a drinking straw.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Kneading part manufacturing process part 2 Extrusion processing part 3 Sizing and cooling process part 4 Engagement part forming and cutting process part 5 Posture alignment part 6 Storage processing part 7 Raw material stocker 8 Raw material hopper 15 Extruder 16 Screw conveyor 19 For additives Case 22 Forming head 25 Hollow forming member 28 Water tank 35 Sizing device 40 Straw cylinder member 42 Drain device 46 Take-off roller 49, 50 Locking portion forming device 52 Rotary cutter 53 Straw member 59, 60 Locking portion forming device 62 Transport Conveyor 67 Standby station 71, 73 Conveying drum 76 Case 78 Eccentric roller

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masami Abe 1-3-15 Miyagi, Adachi-ku, Tokyo Toyo Cap Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A step of adding an additive to a raw material of a thermoplastic material and heating and dissolving to form a kneaded material, and a step of blowing a regulated compressed air into the fed kneaded material to form a hollow molded member. A step of taking out the hollow molded member sent out, cooling and sizing and molding it into a predetermined shape to produce a straw cylinder member, and intersects the straw cylinder member in the longitudinal direction at a predetermined interval. A step of heat-forming the locking portion, a step of cutting the straw cylinder member to a predetermined length to produce a straw member, a step of conveying the straw member to be fed and aligning its position, and a step of aligning the position and feeding the straw member. Sending out the straw member thus prepared. 2. A step of forming the locking portion at a predetermined position on the straw cylinder member at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction, partially or entirely, and a step of cutting the straw cylinder member to a predetermined length. The method for producing a drinking straw according to claim 1, wherein the drinking straw is cut and operated at a predetermined distance from the locking portion of the drinking straw. 3. The cooling of the hollow molded member is performed by water cooling, the sizing of the hollow molded member is performed in water, and the straw cylinder molded after the sizing of the hollow molded member is performed. The method for producing a drinking straw according to claim 1 or 2, wherein moisture adhering to the member is drained by blowing compressed air onto the straw cylindrical member. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the step of aligning the positions of the straw members, the straw members are sequentially conveyed while being sucked by air, aligned in position, and sent to a standby station. A method for producing a drinking straw. 5. The method for producing a drinking straw according to claim 4, wherein the straw members fed to the waiting station are sequentially transferred and stored in the case from below the case. 6. A raw material hopper into which a raw material of a thermoplastic material of a raw material stocker is charged, an additive case provided for adding an additive to the raw material in the raw material hopper, the raw material and the additive A kneaded material manufacturing apparatus for mixing and heating and dissolving to form a kneaded material, a cylinder provided with a screw conveyor for sending out the kneaded material, blowing compressed air into the kneaded material sent out in the cylinder to form the kneaded material An air nozzle for forming the hollow formed member, a take-off roller for taking the hollow formed member sent out from the cylinder, a cooling bath for cooling the hollow formed member picked up by the take-off roller, and a cooling bath disposed in the cooling bath. A sizing device for sizing the hollow molded member and forming it into a predetermined shape to produce a straw tubular member; An engaging part forming apparatus that heat-forms engaging parts that intersect in the longitudinal direction at a fixed interval, a rotary cutter that cuts the straw cylinder member into a predetermined length to produce a straw member having a predetermined length, And a conveying means for adsorbing and conveying the straw members which are sequentially fed out by air, and sending the straw members in a posture-aligned manner. 7. The straw cylinder member is operated in synchronization with the rotary cutter, and the straw cylinder member is cut at a position at a predetermined distance from the latch section of the straw cylinder member. 7. The apparatus for producing a drinking straw according to 6. 8. The production of a drinking straw according to claim 6, wherein the cooling tank is constituted by a water tank in which water for cooling the hollow molded member is circulated and the sizing device is arranged. apparatus. 9. The drinking straw according to claim 8, further comprising a draining device that blows out moisture attached to the drinking straw member sent from the water tank to the drinking straw member by blowing compressed air to the drinking straw member. Manufacturing equipment. 10. The conveyance means includes a conveyance conveyor for feeding out the straw members in an aligned state and a conveyance drum for transferring and sending out the straw members from the conveyance conveyor, and a conveyance drum is provided between the conveyance conveyor and the conveyance drum. The apparatus for producing a drinking straw according to any one of claims 6 to 9, further comprising a standby station for temporarily waiting the straw member fed from the transport conveyor. 11. The straw member fed from the transport drum is sequentially stored in a case from a lower entrance thereof,
The drinking straw manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein an eccentric roller is provided in the case to prevent a bridging phenomenon of the straw member inside the case.